EAST Hampshire is in the grip of a “rural crime wave” with thieves taking tools, vehicles and even a stone path and patio.

Following a spate of high-profile thefts in the Alton area over the past few weeks, NFU Mutual has urged farmers, residents and businesses to increase security.

In one incident thieves dug up an entire York stone garden path and patio from a country home near Petersfield in broad daylight.

A Kingsley landscaping business was also hit twice by thieves who first stole a wood chipper, only to return nine days later to steal its replacement along with £20,000 worth of tools.

NFU Mutual agent Patrick Govier, who is based in Alton, said: “We appear to be in the grip of a rural crime wave.”

He explained they were “especially concerned criminals are becoming more determined”.

“As a result thieves are making country dwellers feel it is unsafe to leave their homes unattended and hard-working people, who have built up their businesses over the years, are finding their livelihoods stolen overnight,” he said.

Based on its statistics as the insurer of almost three-quarters of the UK’s farms and thousands of rural businesses and homes, NFU Mutual suggested the cost of theft in Hampshire “could be at its highest level in three years”.

Mr Govier explained there was still a perception among criminals there are “easy targets” in the countryside, but added: “Farmers and homeowners can do a lot to deter thieves by taking simple security measures.”

He said social media was also “fast becoming the new eyes and ears of the countryside”. “Keeping in close touch with neighbours and police through local Country Watch schemes can play a significant role,” he said.

A Country Watch spokesman told the Herald the rise in rural crime had been increasingly evident over the past seven years, and blamed “swingeing police budget cuts”.

“The frightening aspect of this is people and businesses are now often targeted in broad daylight,” the spokesman added.

He explained: “For some curious reason, hi-vis jackets seem to engender legitimacy. I know of someone who had their house emptied by a removal lorry, in broad daylight, because anyone who saw it happening automatically assumed that it was legitimate.

“The best way is to be suspicious of everything, take notes and photographs when safe to do so and report anything suspicious.”

Alton’s new police sergeant, Daniel Ross, previously said he was tackling the issue of rural burglary with more nightly patrols.